Midwest Tornadoes Claim At Least Six Lives

November 18, 2013

Even though you don’t hear of tornado outbreaks as often during this time of the year, especially compared to the spring, the tornadoes a storm system produced this weekend proved late fall tornadoes are just as nasty. Several people died over the weekend and many more were injured after a massive storm system produced multiple tornadoes over the Midwest. Tornado watches were issued for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin and according to AccuWeather, at least 68 tornado sightings were reported.

“It had the best combination of instability; the sun came out several hours before the thunderstorms blew up,” AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Frank Strait said. “The wind shear was also favorable for tornadoes.” At least one tornado from the weekend was categorized as an EF-4, which meant the tornado had winds that reached 166 to 200 mph.

Even though dozens of tornadoes were reported in multiple states, including Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri, Illinois was hit the worst and has accounted for at least six deaths so far, plus dozens of injuries.

Some residents of the affected areas reported their entire neighborhoods being flattened. “I went over there immediately after the tornado, walking through the neighborhoods, and I couldn’t even tell what street I was on,” Washington, Illinois resident Tyler Gee said. “Just completely flattened–some of the neighborhoods here in town, hundreds of homes.”

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois released a written statement on Sunday night regarding the severe weather:

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by today’s severe storms. I am receiving regular updates from Illinois emergency officials and local leaders including those from Washington, Illinois one of the areas that was hardest hit today. While we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage, it is clear that coordinated local, state and federal resources will be needed to rebuild. I stand ready to work with my colleagues in that effort.”